MOST HELPFUL POSTS

Melissa - posted on 03/15/2009

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hi everyone!! my little on will be 7 months next week. i started feeding her cereal @ 4 months. she is now eating: sweet potato, reg potato, green beans, carrots, parsnips, bananas, apples & peaches. i plan on trying her on pears 2morrow. i am making her own food. i read not to give ur baby peas until they r 8 months if u r making it urself cause the outter layer of the pea can give them stomach problems.

My son is finally taking solids, he was not interested in veggies only cereals at first. I started at 5.5 months, he's only had home made baby foods such as carrots, squash, sweet potaotes, green/black beans, apples, pears, bananas, egg yolk, chicken and avocados, along with rice, oat and wheat cereals. We use the food processor or hand held electric mixer. It works great and food taste great! We save lots on food, and it doesn't take much time to do! I really enjoy it!

My baby girl has been on foods since she was 4 months old and she has eaten veg. from peas carrots green beans sqaush and mixed veg. and sweet potatoes. She has had applesause and pears and banans so far and loves them all. She 6 months now tomorrow she will be starting peaches. She has cerel also. She has her cereal in the morning I mix some fruit in it also. and then she has later on a bottle and then by noon or so she has a veg. or fruit and a bottle of juice and later on she has a bottle of formula before she goes to bed. I buy jars of food.

hmmnn... why are you guys feeding your babies so early..? I mean, bcoz I've learned that babies should have their first feeding when he/she reaches 6mos old... And I consulted pedia, and she agrees... Are there any side effects or disadvantages of not following this..? Coz my baby haraya's really craving for food, i guess..!

Personally, I think 6 months is the very earliest I would start a babe on solids, particularly a breastfed baby. Really, solids in the first year are just for fun and don't really offer much in the way of nutrition, breastmilk or formula supplies the vast majority of their needs. You can check out www.kellymom.com for more info...

As far as babies "craving" food - this is about the age that everything starts to go in their mouths and is one of the growth spurt times - along with 3 weeks, 6 weeks, etc. So as long as you nurse more often or up their formula they're not going to miss anything from waiting on solids. And although the AAP says babies "can" start solids as early as 4 months, they still recommend exclusive bf'ing until 6 months.

I was told by our Ped at Madison's 4 month check up that IF she was bottle feeding up to 32 oz a day then we could start on rice cereal and slowly introduce food. Unfortunately she was only at 24 oz at the time. And we waited a month and she eventually got up to the 32 oz. I don't think it is necessarily age but how much they are eating. My Ped said that they need to be formula fed at least 32 oz so they are still getting the proper nutrition.

I started Demitri on a little rice cereal when he was 4 months. At about 4 1/2 months we started with the jarred foods. I haven't been making it myself, although I'm thinking about it! First he had green beans, then peas, carrots, sweet potatoes & now sqaush. Next he is going to get some fruit. He has had prunes a few times to help with constipation. Boy... do they help. haha He pretty much explodes 30 minutes after prunes. But that's an entirely different subject! haha

hmmnn... why are you guys feeding your babies so early..? I mean, bcoz I've learned that babies should have their first feeding when he/she reaches 6mos old... And I consulted pedia, and she agrees... Are there any side effects or disadvantages of not following this..? Coz my baby haraya's really craving for food, i guess..!

Personally, I think 6 months is the very earliest I would start a babe on solids, particularly a breastfed baby. Really, solids in the first year are just for fun and don't really offer much in the way of nutrition, breastmilk or formula supplies the vast majority of their needs. You can check out www.kellymom.com for more info...

As far as babies "craving" food - this is about the age that everything starts to go in their mouths and is one of the growth spurt times - along with 3 weeks, 6 weeks, etc. So as long as you nurse more often or up their formula they're not going to miss anything from waiting on solids. And although the AAP says babies "can" start solids as early as 4 months, they still recommend exclusive bf'ing until 6 months.

Colin turned 6 mo on the 17th. I just gave him some banana this morning. I wait to do solids until pincer grasp is developed and some other milestones are met so we don't have to do the pureed or jarred food. I'll also probably wait to do any kind of grains or wheat until he's a year. We follow a traditional foods diet so he'll do egg yolks, meats and proteins and dairy (especially yogurt and kefir) in addition to some fruits and veggies (the banana went over really well!). But I'm slow in starting solids because 1)I think they're a pain, and 2) breastmilk is such a perfect food. I guess we have a little bit of a different perspective :)

Riley just turned 6 months old on the 24th, so far she has only had rice cereal and squash. She loves it!! I waited until I had the doctors permission before I gave her food besides cereal. I couldnt wait to try food with her especially since a lot of other mom's on here were feeding their babies food, but most of the other babies seem more advanced than mine is. Every baby is different! :D

My daughter turned 6 months on 2/7, we started giving her a few spoon fulls of rice cereal at 31/2 months. She now eats 3 times a day, oatmeal or rice cereal with a fruit for breakfast, and a fruit or veggie for lunch, and oatmeal or rice cereal with a veggie for dinner. She has tried all the gerber 1st and 2nd foods that I can find and she loves them all. Now the 1st foods aren't enough and she eats only 2nd foods. I introduced a sippie cup a couple weeks ago, but she's just interested in gumming the nipple.

my son turned 6 mnts on the 22nd hes been eating food since about 4 and a half months i started with bananas then applesauce pears peaches sweet potatoes carrots made him spit up no more carrots for him, and green beans they were all first foods in about to start him on second food s bc he eats 2 jars at a time lol i let him eat some things i eat too he likes eggs i smash them with my fingers lol and i jus let him have a taste of just about everyhting

my son turned 6 mnts on the 22nd hes been eating food since about 4 and a half months i started with bananas then applesauce pears peaches sweet potatoes carrots made him spit up no more carrots for him, and green beans they were all first foods in about to start him on second food s bc he eats 2 jars at a time lol i let him eat some things i eat too he likes eggs i smash them with my fingers lol and i jus let him have a taste of just about everyhting

My son turned 6 months yesterday and i started him with steamed rice and dhal and carrot today. He finished it off! He started with rice cereal at 5 months one meal a day. And a week ago he started 3 meals - farley biscuits and fruit (banana(most days), kiwi, prune (jar) and apple (jar)for breakfast and rice cereal for lunch and dinner. He never liked fruits from the jar. Seems like now he doesn't really like the farley biscuits and rice cereal that much anymore. Maybe he wants me to cook more for him! Just wondering what else i can cook. Thanks for all the wonderful sharing!

I'm not sure about breastfeeding and introduction of solids (I had to wean my daughter a while ago), but I can help you out a bit on the stages and avocado. Stage 1 foods are the easiest to digest and mildest tasting - they include orange and yellow vegetables (squash and sweet potato etc.), some fruits, baby rice cereal, and a few green things (peas and avocado.) The solids are also prepared in a thinner and smoother consistency in stage 1. Avocado doesn't need to be steamed (make sure it is ripe), so just mash with a fork until VERY smooth and add water (or breast milk) to make a thinner consistency (as your baby gets used to the purees, you can prepare them thicker). Good luck and let the messiness begin!

Hi Kerry, Thank you for your advice. Do you have to make a break between introducing different foods and feed only with breastmilk?How many spoons should you start with? Some people say, just watch for cues, it can be from 1 teaspoon to 10 - every baby is different. Thank you

Hi Julia,

When you introduce a new food, try it for 3-5 days and if there is no reaction then you are free to move right into the next food. There is no need to breastfeed only between new foods. We started with 2TBSP of each food, but it really is up to the baby, our son will turn his head away and won't open his mouth for the spoon anymore when he is full. Hope this helps you.

My princess is almost 6 months (8-31-08), and has been exclusively breast fed, then I started cereal at 4 months and only 2 tbsp every morning, she now eats rice, oatmeal and barley. Over the last 2 weeks I have increased to two cereal feedings, 3 tbsp am, and 2 tbsp before bed. And only 3 days ago I started with carrots at lunch time and only half a jar. I think I am going to keep at that schedule and keep introducing her orange and yellow veggies, then fruits and meats. As for water I am going to try in the next couple of weeks as Abi is trying to grab anything I am trying to drink.

Does anyone has any suggestions as to which high chair I should buy, I have been using her bumbo and I now need something more substantial.

I'm not sure about breastfeeding and introduction of solids (I had to wean my daughter a while ago), but I can help you out a bit on the stages and avocado. Stage 1 foods are the easiest to digest and mildest tasting - they include orange and yellow vegetables (squash and sweet potato etc.), some fruits, baby rice cereal, and a few green things (peas and avocado.) The solids are also prepared in a thinner and smoother consistency in stage 1. Avocado doesn't need to be steamed (make sure it is ripe), so just mash with a fork until VERY smooth and add water (or breast milk) to make a thinner consistency (as your baby gets used to the purees, you can prepare them thicker). Good luck and let the messiness begin!

Hi Kerry, Thank you for your advice. Do you have to make a break between introducing different foods and feed only with breastmilk?How many spoons should you start with? Some people say, just watch for cues, it can be from 1 teaspoon to 10 - every baby is different. Thank you

We are starting solids this week. Does anyone have advice how to introduce different foods? I was advised to give baby 1 or 2 teaspoon of pureed vegetable or fruit for 3 days, then exclusively breastfeed for 3 days, to see if there is any reaction, then introduce another food...etc. Is this correct? Should we take 3 days break between the foods? What is 1st stage and 2nd stage food? We want to start with avocado. Any advice? Thank you!

Hi Julia,

I'm not sure about breastfeeding and introduction of solids (I had to wean my daughter a while ago), but I can help you out a bit on the stages and avocado. Stage 1 foods are the easiest to digest and mildest tasting - they include orange and yellow vegetables (squash and sweet potato etc.), some fruits, baby rice cereal, and a few green things (peas and avocado.) The solids are also prepared in a thinner and smoother consistency in stage 1. Avocado doesn't need to be steamed (make sure it is ripe), so just mash with a fork until VERY smooth and add water (or breast milk) to make a thinner consistency (as your baby gets used to the purees, you can prepare them thicker). Good luck and let the messiness begin!

We are starting solids this week. Does anyone have advice how to introduce different foods? I was advised to give baby 1 or 2 teaspoon of pureed vegetable or fruit for 3 days, then exclusively breastfeed for 3 days, to see if there is any reaction, then introduce another food...etc. Is this correct? Should we take 3 days break between the foods? What is 1st stage and 2nd stage food? We want to start with avocado. Any advice? Thank you!

Well, we started our daughter on solids at 4 months as one day she just grabbed my spoon. She is now eating burgers, chicken, just about everything. We used to make our own food though, it's so much cheaper then jars. She eats food 3 times a day and bottles the rest of the time.

OMG THIS IS SO HELPFUL FOR ME. I AM A FIRST TIME MOM AND ITS TWINS. AND I WAS WONDERING WHEN CAN I START GIVING THEM BABY FOOD. THE DOCTOR GAVE ME LIKE A MONTHLY CALENDER TYPE AND IT WASN'T REALLY HELPFUL. BUT NOW I KNOW IT'LL BE FINE AND I'M SO EXCITED TO INTRODUCE THEM TO ACTUAL FOOD.

I heard my pediatrics advise (to start between 5-6 months) as well as observing my daughter and decided that at 5 months one week I would start her on the rice cereal, and it went from there. I just don't give her meat or juice yet because he said to wait until she is older.

My son will be 6 months on the 26 . We started him on cereal when he was 4 months (once a day at first, and worked up to twice a day, morning and before bed). He has tried rice, oatmeal and barley cereal. Peas, carrots, green beans, squash, sweet potatoes, apple sauce, bananas and prunes. We are going to try pears next. He has had Farley biscuits, and mum-mum rice rusks as well. When we first tried the fruits and veggies we used store bought to see what his likes and dislikes were, and then we moved on to making our own. I just used my food processor and then portioned the food out into ice cube trays and froze them, once they were set, we emptied the tray into ziplock freezer bags. This way he can have a variety. When the bags get low we make up all the flavors again.

I think it really depends on the baby him/herself. Some babies crave and want solids earlier than others. I've read that once a baby has control of their head and neck and have lost their tongue thrust reflex, seems more hungrier than usual from bottle or breast feeding, reaching for your plate of food that you have they are ready for solids. Also, if a baby is waking up alot during the night they may be ready for solids. All doctors have different opinions on when a baby should start solids. My son started on solids at 5 months because he was about 20 pounds at the time and formula really wasn't filling him up. Also, he would grab at my plate at dinner and would want what food was on there. I started him out slow so he got used to having actual food in his mouth. I don't think there are any side effects to starting a baby early on solids. I think a disadvantage is if you wait too long the baby may not pick up on wanting to eat solids and prefer bottle or breast all the time - this happened to my sister in law's son - she didn't start him on solids until he almost 8 months old and had a very hard time getting him used to eating. Again all babies develop at different rates. I would say if you feel your baby should start eating solids try it out and see what happens.

hmmnn... why are you guys feeding your babies so early..? I mean, bcoz I've learned that babies should have their first feeding when he/she reaches 6mos old... And I consulted pedia, and she agrees... Are there any side effects or disadvantages of not following this..? Coz my baby haraya's really craving for food, i guess..!

Hi Mona,

I WAS with you on this one, until I watched my son at our dinner table. He was miserable. He watched every bite go into our mouths, and no matter that he was just nursed before our dinner, he would whine and cry. So we thought we'd give him a baby spoon to play with. That lasted about 2 days, and then he threw it each time. So we tried plain rice cereal, and boy- did he have an appetite. He is a much happier baby now!

The American Pediatrics Association used to recommend they start at 6 months, but it is now 4-6 months. I was given the go ahead at my sons 4 month check up, but told him I didn't feel we needed to do it early. However, we started at about 5.5 months old due to his behavior.

I guess it is true, every mum has to follow her insticts, because no baby is "text book".

hmmnn... why are you guys feeding your babies so early..? I mean, bcoz I've learned that babies should have their first feeding when he/she reaches 6mos old... And I consulted pedia, and she agrees... Are there any side effects or disadvantages of not following this..? Coz my baby haraya's really craving for food, i guess..!

My son (8-10-08) eats all the stage one fruits and veggies and some stage two foods, all the cereals and chicken, beef and turkey. He wont eat any of the meats unless they are mixed with veggies and he detests bananas. I thought they were supposed to be a favourite! haha.

My little girl is eating rice cereal with pureed fruit or veggie mixed in. We've been meaning to start her on juice and oatmeal cereal but we were traveling. We did applesauce before things we thought she wouldn't like, such as peas and green beans, so that we could mix the applesauce in it if she wasn't a fan of those vegetables.

I am wondering if my son is eating a lot for his age. He is 5 and 1/2 months old and I started feeding him around 4 months old. He is now eating 3 times a day and eats 3 tbs of rice cereal along with 2 jars of baby food at each feeding. It seems like so much for such a little one. I just increased his feedings to 2 jars this past week because he wasn't getting full and was really surprised that he could eat so much. He drinks a 7 oz. bottle when he first wakes and then eats about one-two hrs. later, same at lunch and dinner. He eats apples, bananas, pears, sweet potatoes, peas, carrots and squash. Drinks juice (mixed w/water) only when we take him out to the zoo or parks and it is really hot. I live in Malaysia, so it is hot year round here.

My son is eating just about the same amount of food as yours. He started on solids at 5 months. Just cereal - about a Tablespoon for breakfast and dinner to start for 2 weeks. Once I could see he liked it and no allergies I gave him a Tablespoon of veggie and fruit and increased his cereal to 2 Tablespoons. He was still getting his bottles but I decreased how many he was drinking. He now gets a bottle - 7.5 oz in the morning- after he wakes up; breakfast around 10am which is 3 Tbsp cereal, 1 jar veggie, 1 jar fruit and 3 oz formula; 7.5 oz bottle around 1-1:30; dinner at 4:30 which is same amount as breakfast but no formula and 7.5 oz formula before his bed time - 7:30pm. I tried giving him some apple juice mixed with water but he doesn't seem to like juice at this time.

My son 8/27/08 started solids on Feb 1st. He's only eating rice cereal, peas & pears so far. He also tried mum mums and likes sucking on them. This week I am going to try another cereal and either sweet potatoes or squash. I feed him 2 meals a day, usually morning and dinner time. I have being using organic heinz jars, but would like to make my own fresh food for him too. Last week I introduced a sippy cup with water... he's been more interested in sucking on the cup than drinking the water at this point.

hi!

what are mum mums? (this is what we call our grandmummy) i thought it was funny. :)

HAHA Baby mum mums are rice rusks crackers... they are available in organic or non-organic in either original or vegetable flavor (I've only bought the organic original) and they melt in babies mouth... it's quiet entertaining to watch my little guy suck on them!!

My daughter will be 6 months in a week, (2/24) and she just now is eating rice cereal off a spoon. I do give her 2-3 ounces of apple prune juice only because she gets constipated and her doctor recommended it only for that purpose. I am excited to try other foods but will wait for my next doctor visit on the 26th. :)

My son 8/27/08 started solids on Feb 1st. He's only eating rice cereal, peas & pears so far. He also tried mum mums and likes sucking on them. This week I am going to try another cereal and either sweet potatoes or squash. I feed him 2 meals a day, usually morning and dinner time. I have being using organic heinz jars, but would like to make my own fresh food for him too. Last week I introduced a sippy cup with water... he's been more interested in sucking on the cup than drinking the water at this point.

hi!

what are mum mums? (this is what we call our grandmummy) i thought it was funny. :)

My son 8/27/08 started solids on Feb 1st. He's only eating rice cereal, peas & pears so far. He also tried mum mums and likes sucking on them. This week I am going to try another cereal and either sweet potatoes or squash. I feed him 2 meals a day, usually morning and dinner time. I have being using organic heinz jars, but would like to make my own fresh food for him too. Last week I introduced a sippy cup with water... he's been more interested in sucking on the cup than drinking the water at this point.

Joshua has been eating solids for a few weeks now. He eats rice cereal with a little fruit for breakfast. He also eats veggies or fruits for lunch and dinner. He eats everything from banannas to dinners with meat and veggies. I buy him jar food. I have been thinking of buying a food mill also. My pediatrician also doesn't like the idea of juice. He says it just gets them ready to want sugar in the future.

I haven't done juice either! I don't remember giving my older son juice until the toddler stage. I would highly recommend anyone to get a food mill and make fresh food! Its soo easy, and tastes so much better than jarred.

Joshua has been eating solids for a few weeks now. He eats rice cereal with a little fruit for breakfast. He also eats veggies or fruits for lunch and dinner. He eats everything from banannas to dinners with meat and veggies. I buy him jar food. I have been thinking of buying a food mill also. My pediatrician also doesn't like the idea of juice. He says it just gets them ready to want sugar in the future.

WHAT KIND OF FOOD MILL DID YOU BUY. WE ARE GOING TO START SOLIDS AT THE END OF THE MONTH AND I WANT TO MAKE MY OWN BABY FOOD.

Hi! I bought a very cheap BabyCo Non-Electric Food Mill. It was probably around $15. It doesn't make but a serving at a time, but after he eats, I put the rest of the food through it and save about 2 more servings. I love the ease of cooking and milling it, and knowing exactly what he is getting.

My 6 1/2 has been eating for about a month and 1/2. I give her all the vegetables already. I am going to start meat with her next week. I make some of her food but I do buy it to. I am one of those mom's how gives the fruit last. She is eating all the different kinds of cereal to. I feed her cereal in the moring and vegetables at dinner time.

I am wondering if my son is eating a lot for his age. He is 5 and 1/2 months old and I started feeding him around 4 months old. He is now eating 3 times a day and eats 3 tbs of rice cereal along with 2 jars of baby food at each feeding. It seems like so much for such a little one. I just increased his feedings to 2 jars this past week because he wasn't getting full and was really surprised that he could eat so much. He drinks a 7 oz. bottle when he first wakes and then eats about one-two hrs. later, same at lunch and dinner. He eats apples, bananas, pears, sweet potatoes, peas, carrots and squash. Drinks juice (mixed w/water) only when we take him out to the zoo or parks and it is really hot. I live in Malaysia, so it is hot year round here.

Aidan was 6 months on the 9th... he's getting rice cereal, peas, carrots, green beans, squash and he'll try sweet potatoes for the first time tomorrow. He really didn't like the peas or the green beans, until he decided to feed himself. Now it doesn't matter what's on his spoon as long as the spoon is in his hand!

My son is 6 months and he started on solids at 5 months. Currently for solids he is eating barley, oatmeal and rice cereals. He eats cereal for breakfast and dinner. Veggies he is eating squash, sweet potatoes, peas, green beans and carrots. Fruits he is eating peaches, bananas, prunes, apple sauce and pears. All are jarred organic foods. He gets a veggie and fruit with breakfast and dinner. I think in March he will be able to get on 2nd foods. He just started drinking from a sippy cup about 2 weeks ago.

I make my own baby food, too. We use the book, "The Petit Appetit Cookbook" by Lisa Barnes as a guide of the stages and ideas for more variety of foods than come in the jars. In addition to the usual first foods, my daughter Mina (8-8-08) has also tried mango, Asian pear, and avocado. We're still working on green foods, though - they inevitably make her gag! I thought babies were supposed to love avocado...

My daughter is 5 and a half months and we have been doing solids for about a month. First we tried rice cereal but it caused constipation. We then moved to oatmeal, then sweet potatoes, squash, green beans, and bananas (all stage 1). Tomorrow we are trying carrots. She has liked everything so far. I think she liked sweet potatoes the best.

My daughter is 6 mos. and she has had the gerber stage 1 carrots, squash, sweet potatoes, applesauce, prunes, peas, and we just started bananas! She loves bananas! She seemed to have a lot of problems with constipation for the first few weeks she was on solids so she got prunes twice a day for a few days and now she's doing a lot better! We are just now going from two feedings to three this week. I can't wait until she's sitting on her own so I can give her the stage 2 foods!

My daughter is 5 and a half months old. We've been doing solids for about a month, and so far we've tried rice cereal, bananas, green beans, pears, sweet potaoes, and peaches. I'm not going to do peaches again for a while because they upset her tummy. Bananas are her favorite, but she will eat anything I offer. She loves eating from a spoon!

Well, you sound like you are introducing the same things I am - I can't wait to be able to take what we eat for dinner and blend it up for Felix - so much fun!

We have introduced squash as well, and peaches - next will be peas and green beans.

I hear avocado is really good for babies.

My doctor forbids juice though! haha - you know what, not that I am afraid to try anything - but, my two oldest never had juice - and they are just happy with water, which is great because this saves me money, it's good for their teeth, and doesn't give them excess calories.

I mean, don't get me wrong - they have the occasional juice now - but..they don't ask for it - I have to offer it, otherwise - it's milk or water....

My 5/12 month old is already eating the stage 2 foods - I started solids at 3 months. He's even eating Gerber bisquit cookies and Mum-Mum rice husks as a mid-day snack and loves feeding himself! I feed him the jarred foods and he eats everythigng from bannanas to Chicken and rice mixes. He eats once in the AM and once in the PM. He also will drink apple juice from a sippy cup with his snack.